Global Effort Launched to Combat Dengue and Other Aedes-Borne Arboviruses
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a comprehensive plan to tackle the rapid spread of dengue and other Aedes-borne arboviruses, which pose a significant threat to global health. The Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan (SPRP) aims to reduce the burden of disease, suffering, and deaths from these diseases by fostering a global coordinated response.
According to the WHO, an estimated four billion people worldwide are at risk of infection from arboviruses, with this number expected to increase to five billion by 2050. Dengue cases have surged across all six WHO regions, with over 12.3 million cases reported as of the end of August this year, almost double the 6.5 million cases reported in all of 2023.
The SPRP outlines priority actions to control transmission and offers recommendations to affected countries across various sectors, including disease surveillance, laboratory activities, vector control, community engagement, clinical management, and research and development. The plan is designed to be implemented over one year, requiring US$ 55 million to support health preparedness, readiness, and response efforts.
The WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, emphasized the urgent need for a coordinated response, stating, "From maintaining clean environments to supporting vector control and seeking and providing timely medical care, everyone has a role to play in the fight against dengue. This plan is a roadmap to turn the tide against this disease and other Aedes-borne arboviral diseases, protect vulnerable populations, and pave the way for a healthier future."
The SPRP comprises five key components essential for a successful outbreak response: emergency coordination, collaborative surveillance, community protection, safe and scalable care, and access to countermeasures. The plan is aligned with the Global Vector Control Response 2017-2030 and the Global Arbovirus Initiative, launched in 2022, which focuses on tackling mosquito-borne arboviruses with epidemic potential.
The WHO is calling on all stakeholders – from government agencies and health-care providers to communities and individuals – to join forces in the fight against dengue and other Aedes-borne arboviruses, through innovation, new technologies, and improved vector control strategies.
